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Waits To See Specialists In Boston Increased To Average Of 50 Days, Study Finds
The average time patients in Boston wait for an appointment to see a specialist has increased over the last five years to an average of 50 days and can be up to one year, despite the fact that the city has an "abundance" of specialists, according to a recent study, the Boston Globe reports. For the study, Merritt, Hawkins & Associates, a Texas-based consulting and physician recruiting firm, surveyed 1,162 physician offices in 15 metropolitan areas to try to re-create the situation of a new patient seeking a nonurgent appointment in five specialty areas -- cardiology, dermatology, family medicine, obstetrics-gynecology and orthopedic surgery. The average wait time in Boston is more than three weeks longer than any other city included in the study. The study determined that while Boston patients had the longest wait times for appointments to see dermatologists, ob-gyns and family practitioners, Dallas had the longest wait times to see orthopedic surgeons, followed by Boston. Miami, Minneapolis and San Diego all had longer wait times to see cardiologists than Boston.According to the study, while Boston patients have long faced delays, the problem may have been exacerbated by an increase in patients seeking care following the implementation of the 2006 Massachusetts health insurance law. While the study did not pinpoint a cause for longer wait times in Boston, the study"s authors wrote that the city"s experience "may signal what could happen nationally in the event that access to health care is expanded through health care reform."Brian Rossman, research director for Health Care for All, said the reason for long wait times also is because many specialists in Boston work for academic medical centers and do not see patients full time (Kowalczyk, Boston Globe, 5/15). Don't forget to buy zoloft online no prescription.

Prostate Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment Could Be Improved By Protein That Suppresses Androgen Receptors
A protein that helps regulate expression of androgen receptors could prove a new focal point for staging and treating testosterone-fueled prostate cancer, Medical College of Georgia researchers say.

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Recent Studies And Surveys
New England Journal of Medicine: Medicare Part D Update - Lessons Learned And Unfinished Business - "Since 2006, more than 40 million elderly and disabled people have had the opportunity to enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription-drug plan, as established under the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003." At that time, lawmakers focused on several features of the proposed legislation. "Issues that received particular scrutiny were the unprecedented way that the benefit would be delivered (exclusively through private plans) and its design, featuring an unusual gap in coverage (sometimes called the "doughnut hole")." Four years into the program, "the Obama administration and the Democratically controlled Congress have an opportunity to review the program and identify areas for improvement." This study, The Medicare Policy Project of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, returns to some of the key questions raised during the congressional debate and in the years that led up to the program"s start (Neuman and Cubanski, July 23). (Note: KHN is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation.)
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Expert Group To Review Pharmacy Services In Wales

An expert group has been set up to review pharmacy services across Wales as part of the Welsh Assembly Government"s commitment to develop community pharmacy services and pharmacy-based drop-in centres. The Task and Finish Group will look at all aspects of the current Community Pharmacy contract and how community pharmacists can play a greater role in delivering high quality healthcare to Welsh patients. It will also look at the provision of enhanced services from community pharmacies, with a view to standardising the availability and specifications of those services across Local Health Board areas. In addition, the Group will focus on how to reduce the amount of medication wasted each year in Wales and will be looking specifically at chronic conditions management and admission and discharge to and from hospital. Health Minister, Edwina Hart, said: "I recognise that pharmacists have a wealth of experience to offer patients a range of healthcare advice and support. Pharmacists already offer advice to help people improve their health, such as quitting smoking or promoting good sexual health but they also offer support for people to manage their chronic conditions or help with minor conditions. "I have met with Community Pharmacy Wales, the Welsh Directorate of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the National Pharmacy Association and I have made it clear that I am keen to utilise the skills and experience of pharmacists even further. The One Wales document commits the Welsh Assembly Government to ensuring improved access to services including pharmacy-based drop-in centres as a way of improving access to primary care services." Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy Wales, Paul Gimson, said: "We welcome this initiative as the next step in bringing more NHS healthcare services direct to people in an accessible, and cost effective, way through more than 700 community pharmacies in towns, villages and high streets all around Wales." Chief Executive of the National Pharmacy Association, John Turk, said: "We are delighted that the Welsh Assembly Government is determined to extend the role and contribution of community pharmacies and we will play our part in full in supporting how pharmacy services in Wales develop. "We know first-hand of the Minister"s commitment to this initiative and we will bring to bear the experience, skills and knowledge of NPA members in Wales and beyond to deliver improved health outcomes for patients and the public." Chairman of the Welsh Pharmacy Board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Marc Donovan, said: "We welcome the work of this group which will bring a clear focus to the solutions that pharmacy can provide in improving services for the people of Wales. We are delighted that the Welsh Assembly Government is taking steps to build on the work that we have undertaken in recent years to explore and promote the role of the pharmacist in chronic conditions management, as independent prescribers and in proactively using pharmacy premises in the delivery of care in the community". The Task and Finish group is due to submit a draft report to the National Advisory Board In July 2009, with a final report expected by November 2009. Notes The members of the Task and Finish Group are: Name Role Chris Martin To chair the Task and Finish Group. Currently Chair Designate, Hywel Dda LHB. A pharmacist by profession having qualified with an honours degree in pharmacy and former Community Pharmacist having previously established a small chain of pharmacies in Pembrokeshire. Former Pharmacist Board member of Pembrokeshire LHB. Awarded a Fellowship from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Great Britain (RPSGB) for services to community pharmacy in 2006. Mel Evans Is currently an Independent Member of the National Advisory Board and will provide a reporting link of the work of the Group into the NAB. He is a qualified accountant and has had a career in finance both in the private sector and the NHS. He has worked as Director of Finance for Mid Glamorgan Health & Family Health Services Authorities, was a former Director of Finance & Director of Contracting at the Bro Taf Health Authority and former Chief Executive of Rhondda Cynon Taff LHB. Raj Aggarwal OBE Currently Independent Community Pharmacy Contractor in Cardiff. Board Member of National Pharmacy Association and Community Pharmacy Wales. Chair of Community Pharmacy Wales (S.E.Region). Previously in Senior management with "Boots". Appointed by WAG to sit on oral hearing panels to consider and provide recommendations for appeals submitted under current regulations. Awarded an OBE in 2007 for services to Pharmacy, Charity and Asian Community in Wales. Paul Gimson Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy Wales. Former secondee to WAG, former HoPMM Caerphilly LHB and former community pharmacist. Berwyn Owen To provide a Local Health Board perspective. North Wales based. Chair of Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee. Ian Cowan Current Superintendent Pharmacist of Rowlands Pharmacy Group. Ian has also recently been appointed as Chair of Community Pharmacy Wales. Stefan Fec Secondee to the Welsh Assembly Government as the Community Pharmacy Policy Manager. To provide secretariat support to the task and finish Group. Former Community Pharmacist and Prescribing Adviser to Powys Local Health Board. Welsh Assembly Government


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